Wardrobe-trunk.



P. C. SCHROEDERI WARDROBE TRUNK.

APPucATloN FILED DEC. I7, 1914.

1 ,1 89,496. Patented July 4, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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P. C. SCHROEDER.

WARDROBE TRUNK.

APPLICATION man nEc.17. 1914.

1,189,496. Patented July 4,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W9. Mm@

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OEEICE.

PAUL C. sCHnoEnEaOr CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNOIt To sEAns, noEBUoK ANI) COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A oonroRATIoN OE NEW YORK.

WARDROBE-TRUNK.

Specification iofilietters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1916.

Application lled December 17, 1914. Serial No. 877,727.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL C. SCHROEDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use.- ful Improvements in Vardrobe-Trunks, of which the following is a specication.

In most wardrobe trunks of the prior art, the end wall of the trunk section containing the clothes-supporting means has been pivoted, and the inner side of said endwall has been padded so that whenthe end wall was closed the pad pressed against the clothes or the clothes hangersv andprevented the clothes from shifting about Within the trunk while the trunk was being transported. The pivoted end wall was anelement of weakness in the trunk, and was relatively expensive. Vhen an attempt was made to use a rigid, immovable end wall, special retaining means had to be provided to secure the clothes hangers againstv movement.

One of'the 'objects of this invention is to ob'viate` the necessity of hinging the end wall, and to provide for automatically locking or clamping the clothes-hangers in the operation of folding the hanger-supporting structure.

Otherv advantages and improvements will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmental perspective view of awardrobe trunk embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentalsectional view, showing the hanger-supporting frame fully extended. Fig. 3 is a view showing said frame pushed rearwardly into the trunk. Fig. 4 shows the frame folded and in operative relation to the padded inner side of.

the end wall. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. et. Fig. 6 is a fragmental view showing the position assumed when the frame oc` cupies its foremost position. Fig. 7 shows the parts in the position represented in Fig.

3. Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment herein shown of the invention, the trunk comprises two sections A and `B hinged together in any ordinary or preferred manner. The clothes-supporting means is contained within the section A. Said Vmeans comprises a device on which clothes hangers X may be supported, the. device being slidable in a horizontal plane i (assuming the trunk to be standing Yon end) V3 is a flange consisting of two portions 5 and 5@ of different heights. lVhen the hangler-supporting frame 1 is in its outer position, the flange portion 5 lies beneath an overhanging stop flange 6 secured upon the inner wall of the trunk section A.

7 is a stop portion to limit the outward movement of theframe 1. (See Fig. 6). When the frame 1 is in its innermostposition, the flange 5 is clear of the ange 6, as shown in Fig. 3.

To support the forward section 1a ofthe frame 1 when the frame is in its outer position, I provide two braces 8 each pivoted at its upper end to one side of the frame section la, the lower ends of said braces being notched to engage the forward ends of flanges -9 secured upon the inner walls of the trunk section A.

In order that the articles of clothing shall not shift their position while the trunk is -being transported, I provide means whereby the clothing may be clamped in position when the trunk is closed. This means includesl a padded or cushioned portion 10 upon the inner side of the upper end wall of the trunk section A. When the trunk is rto be closed, the hangers X are pushed rearwardly upon the frame 1 until they are'located inwardly of the pivots 2. The lower ends of the braces 8 are then pushed upwardly until the braces are disengaged fromV vwhereby the clothing carried by the hangers 11o X is pressed against the pad or cushion l0. When the parts are in this position the flange 5 extends above the flange 6 and serves to lock the parts against outward sliding movement. It will be noted that when the parts are disposed as shown in Fig. e, the frame section la does not project beyond the plane of the inner side of the trunk section A. Vhen access is desired to the clothing, the section laL is turned upwardly whereupon gravity causes the frame l to settle upon the rails 4. The frame l may then be drawn outwardly to the extent permitted by the engagement of the flanges 5 with the stop portions 7, the braces 8 dropping into engagement with the forward ends of the flanges 9.

In the following' claims I have used the term Ccasing to denote a trunk body, a tray or any other receptacle for the clothes-supporting means.

I claim as my invention:

l. A wardrobe trunl having a garmentsupporting structure comprising a pair of rail-sections slidably mounted in the trunk so as to move in the direction of their length and a pair of rail-sections hinged to the extremities of said slidable sections at points which are fixed with respect to said slidable sections, the upper surfaces oi' said hinged sections being in the same plane with the upper surfaces of said slidable sections when said hinged sections are placed in alinement with said slidable sections so as to provide a pair of continuous bearing surfaces spaced apart for slidably supporting the opposite ends of garment hangers.

2. A wardrobe trunk having a garmentsupporting structure comprising guides on the sides of the trunk, slides mounted to move therein, rail-sections fixed to said slides so as to be movable longitudinally in and out of the trunk, and extension rail-sections hinged to the ends of the irst named rail sections respectively, so as to stand in alinement therewith when extended.

3. In a wardrobe trunk, the combination of a casing having an immovable end wall, a pad on the inner side of said wall, a clothes-supporting frame in said casing comprising two pivoted sections, and means actuated in the folding of the clothes-supporting frame for moving one of the sections of said clothes-supporting frame into clamping relation with said pad.

Ll. In a wardrobe trunk, the combination of a casing, a hanger-supporting frame slidably supported in said casing, said frame comprising a pivoted front section arranged to be folded into angular relation with the remainder of the frame, and braces for said front section.

5. In a wardrobe trunk, the combination of a clothes-supporting frame comprising two pivoted sections, a clamping portion, and means carried by one of said frame sections for moving the other frame section in operative relation to the clamping portion.

6. In a wardrobe trunk, the combination of a hanger-supporting frame comprising a front section and a rear section pivotally connected together,a clamping portion above said frame, and means carried by the front section for raising the rear frame section in operative relation to the clamping portion.

7. In a wardrobe trunk, the combination of a clothes-supporting device comprising two pivotally connected sections, a brace connected to one of said sections, means arranged to be engaged by said brace to hold the last mentioned section in operative position, said brace being arranged to engage and elevate the other section when the bracecarrying section is pivotally moved.

8. In a wardrobe trunk, two rails, a clothes-supporting device slidablek on said rails, two flange portions of unequal height iixed to each side of said device, stop members adapted to prevent upward movement of the higher Harige portions, said device being movable on said rails to carry said higher flange portions away from said stop members, and means for raising said clothessupporting means when the latter is in the last mentioned position.

9. In a wardrobe trunk, two rails, a twopart hanger-supporting frame slidable on said rails, two flange portions of unequal height fixed to each side of said device, stop means adapted to prevent upward movement of the higher flange portions, said frame being movable on said rails to carry said higher flange portions away from said stop means, and means operable by one of said frame parts for raising said clothes-supporting frame when the latter is in the last mentioned position.

l0. In a wardrobe trunk, the combination of a rectangular frame comprising a front and rear section, said sections being pivotally connected together, a slide secured to each side of the rear section, rails on which said slides are supported, means to limit outward movement of said frame, means to prevent tilting of the rear section of the frame when the latter is moved outwardly, and means to prevent pivotal movement of the front section of the frame when the frame is moved outwardly. v

11. In a wardrobe trunk, the combination of a casing having an immovable end wall, a pad on the inner side of said wall, a rectangular frame comprising a front and a rear section, said sections being pivotally connected together, a slide secured to each side of the rear section, rails in said casing on-which said slides are supported, means to limit outward movement of said frame, means to prevent tilting of the rear section of the frame when the latter is moved outwardly, braces to prevent pivotal movement of the front section of the frame When the frame is moved outwardly, ianges engageable by the ends of said braces, said bracesl A rail-sections slidably mounted in the trunk so as to move in the direction of their length, and a pair of eXtensible rail-sections hinged to said slidable sections, the upper surfaces of said hinged sections being ,in the samel plane With the upper surfaces of said slidable sections when said hinged sections are placed in alinement With said slidable sections, Vso as to provide a pair of continuous bearing surfaces spaced apart for slidably supporting the opposite ends of garment hangers.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my v' hand in the presence oftwowitnesses.

PAUL c. scHRoEDER. l Y

In the presence ofn' E. L. CURTIS, C. J. CORNWELL.

Uopu o! this patent may be obtained Vfor ve cents each, by addressing Athe "Commissioner ot Patents.

Washington, D. C. Y 

